Permits for fatty food

15th January 2007

The Conservatives are considering a proposal whereby producers of fatty foods and alcohol must apply for a permit.

The proposal was put forward at the Conservative summit on social responsibility during which an advisory group asked whether the methods being used to tackle pollution and climate change could also be used to confront other social problems. The system would work in a similar way to carbon trading schemes which aim to tackle pollution.

The advisory group has suggested that permit holders who responsibly trade in fatty food and alcohol could be rewarded by having less government regulation. The advisory group also wants the Tories to examine whether airlines will soon be able to buy and sell permits to emit carbon. It wants to give businesses incentives to act responsibly and to rely less on government control. Shadow industry secretary Alan Duncan, "We want fewer rules for those who behave well and we're open to all ideas to embrace best practice."